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Gems of .Thought. 



BY 



ALICE IRVINE HENDERSON 





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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

BOH^ 

Chap.. Copyright No. 

Shelf. fct.2-3 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT 



ALICE IRVINE HENDERSON 




NEW YORK 
THE METAPHYSICAL PUBLISHING CO. 

1897 






Copyright, 1897, by 
ALICE IRVINE HENDERSON 



flntrofcuction 

" Know ye not," says St. Paul, " that ye 
are a temple of God, and that the spirit of 
God dwelleth in you ?" And he further de- 
clares : " If any man destroyeth the temple 
of God, him will God destroy." 

From this statement we are to infer that 
these material bodies have their use and are 
necessary for the habitation of the spirit, 
the palace of the King of Love, and are 
therefore not to be counted as nothing, but 
are to be treated with due consideration 
and respect. 

When we can realize that life is eternal 
and as indestructible as its Source ; that the 
life flowing through us is without beginning 
or end, and that we are dwelling in eternity 
at the present moment as much as we ever 
shall — when we can fully comprehend this, 
then we shall begin to understand some- 
what of our own possibilities, our places 
and missions upon this planet. 

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We are occupying these material bodies 
for a season to gain the experiences of earth 
which are necessary for our further devel- 
opment ; and it behooves us that we so prof- 
itably improve our opportunities that we 
may finally attain to that degree of perfec- 
tion which will make it unnecessary for us 
ever again to dwell in fleshly tabernacles. 

When first we occupy our temple, it is 
pure and undefiled, small and plastic; so we 
become, in a measure, the architects and 
builders of this wonderful structure, and 
we are responsible for its symmetry and 
strength, or for its crumbling foundation 
and tottering walls. It therefore becomes 
most necessary that we select very carefully 
the material for its construction. 



patience 

Almost the first lesson to be learned is 
Patience. It is especially necessary to over- 
come the countless petty annoyances of 
daily life. Many a one who has bravely 
met the storms of adversity, and stood firmly 
under the almost overwhelming sorrows 
that have crowded upon him, has perished 
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miserably in the whirlpool of constant nag- 
gings, fault-findings, and thankless duties. 
Then let us begin by being patient with our 
environments. We may not be able to 
change them, and we may be obliged to live 
among them ; we may still be called upon 
to give our care and attention to the selfish, 
fretful invalid who makes unceasing de- 
mands upon our time and strength, with 
never a word of loving appreciation. We 
may also have to meet intemperance, pov- 
erty, and kindred afflictions, but amidst it all 
we must be learning our lesson of patience, 
for it is to be a white stone in our temple, 
without flaw or blemish. 

We can, if we will, so change ourselves 
that our real selves need not be affected by 
all these conflicting conditions. We can 
create our own atmosphere, if we will, by 
daily entering into our temple and holding 
communion with its High Priest. "The 
Lord is in His holy temple ; let all the earth 
[the material] keep silence before Him." 
Therefore, by permitting this divine ego to 
govern, guide, and direct all our earthly 
conditions, we may rise above our environ- 
ments and surround ourselves with an im- 
penetrable wall of strength and patience. 
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This requires daily effort, but a final victory 
will be gained, and we will at last be able 
to see the cross dissolving amidst the more 
glorious splendors of the resurrection of 
our higher nature. 



Uove 

Love is most essential for spiritual devel- 
opment. Professor Drummond has truly 
said it is the "greatest thing" in the world. 
Not the selfish love of loving those who 
love us, but the broad and compassionate 
love of Christ ; the " love that thinketh no 
evil, and is kind ;" the love that can look 
beyond the sin-stained, the outcast, and the 
degraded personality, and see the divine 
spirit within and the stamp of God's image 
thereon. 

All about us lies this great, throbbing sea 
of humanity, waiting for the stilling of the 
tempest that threatens to make shipwreck 
of them all. The spirit of love can breathe 
upon them and lift them from the surging 
elements of their storm-swept souls and 
place them upon the firm ground of truth. 

Then let us begin by cultivating more 
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love within ourselves, and then open wide 
the casements of our soul that its fragrance 
may flow out. 

Love — sweet, tender love, that pities but 
may not condemn ! God so loved the world 
that He sent the divine Master as a fit rep- 
resentation of his compassion for suffering 
humanity ; and Christ's greatest work was 
teaching the love of God to mankind. 
Even when betrayed and denied by his own 
friends, no words of condemnation were 
pronounced ; and when upon the cross his 
loving spirit, looking from the divine 
heights, could say, "Father, forgive them." 
The pain of crucifixion was that the world 
he had come to redeem was crucifying the 
divine in themselves. Let us, then, make 
Love one of the corner-stones of our tem- 
ple, firm and true. 



Jfaitb 

Faith should also be one of the founda- 
tion-stones of our temple, for works with- 
out faith cannot bring satisfactory results. 
Let us have faith in the absolute, unfailing 
Good — faith in ourselves, remembering 
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that, according to our faith, so will it be 
unto us. 

All the great enterprises of the world are 
conducted by faith. The great ships start 
out upon their journey across the water. 
The captain realizes that storms may await 
him and that the dangers of the deep con- 
front him on all sides ; but he has faith in 
the staunchness of his vessel, and by faith 
he already sees the point of his destination.. 

The little, hard, brown seed does not sug- 
gest the fragrant lily ; yet we place it in the 
ground, and by faith we know it will soon 
emerge into a radiant blossom. So if ma- 
terial things claim our faith, how much 
greater need have we to cultivate a larger 
and more abundant faith in spiritual things 
— the faith that can trust unquestioningly 
the voice and directions of the Divine ; that 
can look beyond the shadows and discern 
the real, and, like Moses of old, can stand 
upon the Mount of Faith and view the 
Promised Land ! 

Let us hold firmly to our faith, that it 
may not be tossed hither and thither by 
contrary winds until it is lost in the fog of 
unbelief ; but let us trust our guide at the 
centre, that is capable and true, and we will 



one day ride at anchor in a peaceful harbor 
where is waiting a place for us that none 
other can fill, and which will remain vacant 
if we fail to make our port. 



fl>uritp 

The fourth corner-stone of our temple 
must be Purity, whose whiteness cannot fail 
to be seen : purity of thought — for in the 
thought-world are born the evil and the 
good that show forth in the life. How 
many think that, because no visible act of 
their lives can be called impure, they are 
beyond question ! Have they cleansed the 
attic chambers of their thought-world ? 
Christ said : " The pure in heart shall see 
God," know Him, and feel His presence. 

He that dwells among the lowlands and 
marshes, breathing the noxious vapors and 
gathering the poisonous flowers that grow 
beside the dark, sluggish stream of sensual- 
ity, has much to overcome. "But to him 
that overcometh shall be given a crown of 
life " whose stars shall not grow dim and 
whose beauty shall never fade. " Pray ye, 
therefore, that ye enter not into temptation." 

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Thus we would build our temple upon 
the foundation of truth, having for its cor- 
ner-stones : Patience, Love, Faith, Purity ; 
and though we may build strongly and 
guard each gateway that no foreign enemy 
may take possession, yet often our most 
dangerous foes are those of our own house- 
hold. So there must be guards within as 
well as without ; and among the most insid- 
ious enemies arc our thoughts. Many per- 
suade themselves that what they think in 
secret is not revealed to the world, forget- 
ting that, not to the world, but to their high 
priest within, are they responsible. To this 
inner monitor there are no secret sins. He 
has declared : "As he thinketh in his heart, 
so is he." 

Thoughts are things — living, forceful 
things. Each thought is pregnant with 
good or evil. We all have thought-atmos- 
pheres from which radiate the nature and 
line of our thinking. It is altogether a mis- 
taken idea that the nature of our thoughts 
is hidden or disguised from the world, for it 
is the motive power back of each act, and it 
writes its origin in unmistakable lines upon 
the face. 

Thoughts are a mighty force, and neither 

IP 



time nor space knows their limitations. 
They travel upon the wings of the light- 
ning across oceans and beyond mountains, 
freighted with their mission of good or ill. 
Of what, then, are we thinking ? - What are 
we sending forth upon the thought-wave to 
return to us ? We are to-day reaping the 
harvest of right or wrong thinking ; to some 
it may be a harvest of tears, but to others 
blessings untold. 

Let us commence, then, by putting our 
thoughts in order. Do we desire health ? 
Then let us think strong, healthful thoughts, 
which set in motion the vibrations of health. 
Is it love and happiness our souls are starv- 
ing for ? Then begin to cultivate loving 
thoughts toward those for whom you may 
have in times past held only unkind and 
bitter thoughts, remembering that " as we 
sow, so shall we also reap." 

Be careful what you think, my friend, 
For thoughts are things, they say ; 

And all your hopes of heaven depend 
On what you think each day. 

You send them forth with hate or love, 

To rest on friend or foe, 
And back they come to you and prove 

You reap whate'er you sow. 
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For demons are the thoughts of hate, 
To haunt your sleepless nights, 

And round you weave the web of fate 
And drag you from the heights. 

But loving thoughts the angels bring, 
And in their hands they bear 

The notes of gladness you shall sing 
When all your thoughts are prayer. 



Concentration 

If we would be fully instructed in the 
spiritual mysteries we must constantly and 
methodically practise concentration. Spas- 
modic attempts, while they may not be 
wholly without effect, will not answer if we 
expect results. So many complain of their 
inability to concentrate their thoughts upon 
any fixed thing or desire, and say that when 
they sit down in the silence all sorts of 
thoughts go wandering through their 
minds, preventing anything like concentra- 
tion. Perseverance is the only remedy, and 
after awhile we will find our own reward. 
Some hour, when least liable to be disturbed 
by intrusion, let us sit quietly, banishing 
from our thoughts the acts and circum- 



stances of the day, and make ourselves an 
empty vessel through which may flow the 
stream of the Water of Life, that our souls 
may be fed upon the heavenly manna. Thus 
we will invite the ministry of the angels of 
all good, who shall whisper words of wis- 
dom and direct our ways. Then to us will 
be opened the book containing the seven 
seals ; " And there will be a new heaven 
and a new earth," and we shall be taught of 
the spirit the many things that now seem 
to us unfathomable mysteries. 

The book of Revelation tells us: "That 
to him that overcometh I will give to eat 
of the hidden manna, and I will give him a 
white stone, and in the stone a new name 
written, which no man knoweth saving he 
that receiveth it." 



prifce 

It is well to consider some of the hin- 
drances to our advancement, and to question 
ourselves as to how much they form a part 
of our daily lives. 

Pride and selfishness seem to occupy a 
prominent place in our nature, and may 
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well be termed kindred evils. Although 
selfishness may exist without pride, yet the 
proud are usually selfish. 

The Scriptures are full of admonitions 
against the haughty, arrogant spirit. In 
Proverbs we find that " every one who is 
proud in heart is an abomination to the 
Lord ;" and again, "The Lord will destroy 
the house of the proud." Christ taught 
humility by his birth and his refusal to be 
tempted by the kingdoms of the world or 
the glory thereof. In one of his lessons he 
took a lily of the valley and declared that 
" Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 
like one of these." Robed in spotless white, 
content to shed its fragrance for those who 
should seek its secluded dwelling-place, and 
quietly fulfilling its mission of sweetness 
and purity, it was a fitting type of the hum- 
ble yet beautiful life of the Spirit of Truth. 

When we analyze the source of pride, we 
find it centres around the things that perish 
— the purple and fine linen, the sumptuous 
living, position by birth or circumstances, 
intellect or fancied superiority, beauty or 
admiration — forgetting that God is the 
Maker of us all, and that these material 
bodies shall all mingle in the same dust. 
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The eternal Self, a part of the Divine, can- 
not know or experience either selfishness or 
pride. If we would be truly great, let us 
then become one with the King of our Tem- 
ple and dwell in his royal presence, wearing 
the robe of purity and the diadems of eter- 
nal truth. If we would be truly wise let us 
learn of the spirit of wisdom, to whom is 
given the keys of the storehouse of all 
knowledge. We shall read the glories of 
the heavens, and hear the music of the 
spheres. Then let us put away selfish pride 
and love humanity, for the spirit of God 
abideth in all ; and he is no respecter of 
persons, but chooseth from the spiritual 
standpoint His own. 

"A man's pride shall bring him low, but 
honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." 



Ifear 

Another enemy we must meet and con- 
quer is Fear. It might well be claimed 
that fear is one of the angels that with a 
two - edged sword keeps guard over the 
gates of paradise and prevents us from en- 
tering into its complete enjoyment. "Why 
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are ye fearful, O ye of little faith ? " said 
the Master. Surely, if we believe in the 
Lord of our temple, we must trust Him in 
all things ; and when tempests rage and 
threaten to engulf, and the darkness of de- 
spair envelops our souls, if we fear not we 
will hear the " Peace, be still," and know 
we are not forsaken or alone. 

Fear oftentimes causes serious results in 
producing disease ; for it puts in motion 
the very vibrations connected with some 
dreaded ailment and calls it directly to us. 
Are we afraid of accidents, or of calamities? 
The same law holds good. Fear paralyzes 
effort and retards progress; and the victim 
of ever-present fear is indeed in a most un- 
fortunate condition. He sees distorted 
shadows on every side, and dwells in hourly 
dread of some terrible calamity. Then let 
us overcome this great enemy of content by 
calling to our aid the help of the Supreme 
Ruler of our lives, who can and will free us 
from the tyrant who would enslave us with 
his chains. Let us declare ourselves free 
from the bondage of disease, free from anx- 
ieties for the future, free to walk the higher 
pathways of spiritual unfoldment — not fear- 
ing comments or loss of friends, nor trou- 
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bled about the things that perish ; for we 
know that He whom we trust is able and 
willing to give unto us all things needful, 
and will not let any evil thing come nigh 
us. 



anger 

Anger is another foe, of mighty prowess, 
that we must contend with and finally over- 
come, ere we can dwell in peace and find 
contentment. 

It would sometimes seem as if the guar- 
dian angels of our temple had all departed, 
leaving the gateways wide open to the de- 
mons who wait without to rush in at such 
opportunities and take possession — who war 
with each other for supremacy, and, when 
at last they are driven forth, leave the body 
a victim to their riotous visits. Why will 
we permit our beautiful temple to be dese- 
crated by such unholy invasions ? Many a 
helpless invalid to-day is the victim of his 
own ill-temper, and wonders why physi- 
cians, travel, and all the outward means do 
not cure his malady. Many a nervous 
wreck that finds himself behind the grated 
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windows of an asylum might still be en- 
joying the happiness of tranquil life if anger 
had been controlled. 

Then learn to control anger, remembering 
that "he that conquereth himself is great- 
er than he who taketh a city." We will 
also say that he who conquers himself has 
conquered the world. What the world or 
the material is to us, we create within our- 
selves. All things are to us the reflections 
of our own thoughts ; then let us cultivate 
kindly thoughts, and, when tempted to re- 
sentment by some fancied insult, say to that 
person, mentally, " Your higher Self would 
not insult me, and your lower self cannot ;" 
and so for us it will not exist. When tempt- 
ed by peculiarly trying circumstances, at 
once retire within and claim the protection 
of your King, who waits to be called and 
never fails to help those who seek his lov- 
ing care. 



TOorrp 

Does any one ever really enjoy worrying ? 
It would often seem so, judging by the way 
some indulge in it. They must have some 
one or something to worry about. Why is 
it necessary to climb mountains in our 
minds before we reach them ? If they rise 
across our pathway, let us first see if they 
are really mountains or but the reflection 
of our own distorted imagination. If the 
real mountains confront us, then look for 
the pathway that lessens the climbing, and 
not sit at the base seeing only the sharp 
rock at the top. There are cool waters and 
bright flowers and welcome shade along 
the mountain-path, and it is not so steep as 
it seems ; therefore, wait until we investi- 
gate the mountain and see if it is worth 
spending so much time worrying about. 
Are we worried that yonder stream which 
seems so deep and wide must be crossed, 
and no bridge in sight ? Wait. The bridge 
will appear, or, as we approach, the stream 
will lessen, and a single step will land us 
safely on the other side. Are we worrying 

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because old age and poverty stand with 
outstretched hand waiting to lay hold upon 
us ? Will worrying about it bring emanci- 
pation ? Surely not ; but, by spending the 
force and energy necessary for perpetual 
worrying in helping ourselves into a more 
contented and cheerful condition, we can 
expel from our kingdom the necessity for 
all worry. Let us paint upon the walls of 
our imagination the most beautiful pictures 
that cheerful and happy opportunities have 
brought to us, and contemplation upon 
them will turn our thoughts from the 
gloomy and forbidding past. Let us culti- 
vate cheeriness, thankfulness for the many 
blessings at our command, and learn to be 
content with the things we have. 

Let us be individuals, not merely atoms, 
in the great, seething mass of humanity. 
Let us declare ourselves free, for until we 
do so we shall remain in bondage worse 
than that of the Egyptians. We may pass 
through the Red Sea and go safely through 
the dangers of the wilderness — have even a 
glimpse of the Promised Land ; and if we 
have not gained sufficient strength to de- 
clare ourselves free from the yoke of bond- 
age, we will find ourselves sighing for the 
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flesh-pots of slavery, and the Promised 
Land will recede, for it is only given to 
those who overcome to inherit its riches. 
If we seek a fairer country we must be will- 
ing to leave the old behind, and, as we clasp 
hands with the eternal, let the material dis- 
appear. 

We must permit the divine ego to guide 
us into this promised rest, from whose holy 
mount we may survey not only the land of 
bondage whence we came, but the still 
loftier heights that await our spiritual de- 
velopment. 

" Escape ; flee for thy life ! " were the 
words of warning to Lot's wife, but her 
earthly tendencies caused her to look back, 
and in that moment of earthly longing she 
lost her opportunity. How many of us are 
like Lot's wife, determined to look back to 
the country from which we wish to escape, 
and to-day stand as memorials of lost op- 
portunities ! 

Let us learn to cultivate repose, and not 
be tossed hither and thither by every blast, 
but calmly meet whatever comes, and it will 
soon pass over, leaving our atmosphere 
clearer and purer for the storm. Let us not 
be moved from our repose of spirit even if 
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the earth crumble beneath our feet, and the 
heavens melt with consuming fire. 

Let us stand still and see the glory of the 
Lord. We can then help those who have 
not yet attained this standard of repose, and 
we cannot until we do. 

Let us be slow to make friends, for too 
often we permit those whom we call friends 
to persuade us from what we know to be 
our duty ; and it may be that we shall be 
called upon to choose between our princi- 
ples of right and the opinion of our friends. 
There must be a kindred feeling, to pro- 
mote friendship ; so our friends are often 
representatives of our own interior nat- 
ure. 

The saying, " A man is known by his as- 
sociations," is often true. Then let us cul- 
tivate the highest ideas we can have of 
friendship, that we may be enabled to 
choose wisely and to draw to ourselves the 
highest and best. Then let us be true 
to those we have chosen ; let no unkind or 
uncharitable judgment disturb this sweet 
relationship ; let us place it upon the 
highest plane, where sweet, perennial flow- 
ers bloom untouched by winter's chill or 
summer's heat, and in that serene atmos- 



phere we may fill our temple with the frag- 
rant and unfading flowers of friendship. 

Let us keep this beautiful temple in 
which we dwell, pure and clean ; let not the 
dust of materiality spoil its costly furnish- 
ings, but let the perpetual light of faith 
burn upon its altar. Let the white robe be 
kept spotless for the coming of the King ? 
for whose coronation we may bring the 
jewels of the kindly deeds of daily life. 

Many have travelled the road over which 
we are journeying to-day, and mauy will 
follow after us ; so let us leave mile-stones 
by the way, that they may not wander from 
the true path and be lost upon the desert 
or broken upon the rocks. Christ said, 
"Ye are a city set upon a hill, whose light 
cannot be hid." Also, " Let your light so 
shine before men that others, seeing your 
good works, shall glorify your Father which 
is in heaven." 

Where is this heaven ? Surely not in 
some far-off country. The kingdom of 
heaven is within us. It is only the veil of 
our own mortality that hides the glorious 
habitation of the immortals from our eyes. 
Then let the veil of the temple be rent, that 
we may stand in the presence of the Divine ; 
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for, although no man hath seen God, yet 
we see His reflection in our own divine, 
higher Self. And we may hear the voice of 
the spirit calling us to the land of our in- 
heritance, where abideth forever the peace 
of our Lord. 



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